Berlin — Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel said the escalation of protests against a disputed railway project that left 130 people injured was "saddening," her spokesman said Friday.

Some 1,000 police officers on Thursday used water cannons and pepper spray to break up a rally of about 2,000 demonstrators in the southwestern city of Stuttgart, protesting against the €4.1 billion ($5.5 billion) project, which foresees moving the city's station underground.

Police initially said 116 people were injured, but on Friday raised the toll to 130. It said 16 of the injured demonstrators had to be brought to hospitals. Six officers were also hurt, and 26 demonstrators were temporarily detained, police said.